Snubbed truck



R. C. PIERCE Oct. 18, 1949.

SNUBBED TRUCK 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed June '4, 1945 II llllll l Oct. 18,1949. R. c. PlERCE 2,485,508

' Filed June 4, 1945 SNUBBED TRUCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I j JO Patented Oct. 18, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SNUBBED TRUCK Raymond 0. Pierce, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 4, 1945, Serial No. 597,557

26 Claims. (01. 105197) My invention relates to railway car trucks and particularly to a novel form of snubbed truck wherein the snubbing parts are so mounted and arranged in the bolster as to facilitate the use of a bolster structure of adequate strength while at the same time accommodating the use of maximum spring capacity for actuation of the friction shoes forming a part of the snubbing device.

My novel arrangement is illustrated as applied to a railway freight car truck wherein spaced side frames of more or less conventional form are used with bolster openings defined in part by vertical columns at either side thereof between which may be spring-supported the bolster on which the car is carried.

An object of my invention is to devise a snubbed type of truck in which the friction device may be so mounted in the bolster as to permit the support of the friction shoes in such manner as to permit their satisfactory equalization so that wear will be well distributed over the friction surface of the shoe.

Another object of my invention is to devise such a snubbed type of car truck wherein a single resilient means may be so mounted in the bolster as to actuate both friction shoes, said resilient means being positioned in the bolster in such manner as to permit the use of any size spring which may be desired.

A more specific object of my invention is to devise a ride control truck wherein the friction parts are mounted in the bolster, said parts including a coil spring mounted longitudinally of the bolster for actuation of friction shoes at each side of each bolster end, the force of said spring being transmitted to the respective shoes through a pull rod connected to actuating arms associated with respective shoes.

Still another object of my invention is to devise a novel form of bolster satisfactory for application of such a friction device as herein illustrated.

A different object of my invention is to devise a snubbed type of truck wherein the snubbing parts are so mounted in the bolster end for engagement with spaced side frame columns that movement of the bolster longitudinally of the frame between the columns will be opposed by the maximum resilient force applicable to the friction shoes at both sides of the bolster, thus affording maximum power for centering the bolster between the columns and improving the squaring action of the truck,

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation of a railway car truck embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View therethrough taken approximately in the vertical plane bisecting the truck as indicated by the line 22 of Figure 1, approximating onethird of the bolster being shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the truck shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lower half of the bolster as well as the side frame being shown in section approximately in the horizontal plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken transversely of the bolster approximately in the planes indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a further sectional view through the bolster assembly taken in the vertical diagonal plane at one side of the bolster approximately indicated by the line 55 of Figure 3; s

Figure 6is an alternate sectional view comparable to Figure 5;

Figures '7, 8 and 8A show my novel form of spring tension or pull rod, Figure '7 being a side elevation thereof. Figure 8 a top plan, and Figure 8A an end view taken from the right as seen in Figure 8;

Figures 9, 10 and 11 show my novel form of friction shoe, Figure 9 being a view in elevation of the friction face side thereof, Figure 10 a side elevation taken from the right as seen in Figure 9, and Figure 11 a, top plan view thereof; and

Figures 12, 13 and 14 illustrate my novel form of actuatin arm or pressure arm, Figure 12 being a top plan view thereof, Figure 13 a view from the bottom as seen in Figure 12, and Figure 14 a sectional view through the midportion thereof approximately in the plane indicated by the line M-l4 of Figure 12.

My novel arrangement is shown as applied to a freight car truck more or less conventional in form wherein the side frame has the compression member 2 and the tension member 4, and a column 6 at either side of the usual central bolster opening 8, each of said columns 6 having along its upper and central portion a flat bolsterengaging surface, the opening below said bolsterengaging surface being somewhat widened for accommodation of the assembling or dismantling of the bolster with respect to the frame. The spring seat portion of the tension member is of well-known type with the widened spring seat In on the top chord [2, said spring seat being def ned by the upturned inboard and outbQard flanges It, IS, said tension member box-section also comprising the bottom chord 48, the inboard and outboard walls 29 and 22, and the center rib 24. On the spring seat I may be positioned a plurality of springs diagrammatically indicated at 26, 26 on which may be positioned in usual manner as at 28 the end of the bolster, generally designated 39, said bolster having for cooperation with the guide portion of the frame the outboard guide lugs 32, 32 and the inboard guide lugs 34, 34.

The bolster end may be of box section with the top wall 36 (Figure 2), the bottom wall 38, side walls 49 and 42, and the spaced longitudinal ribs 44 and 46 Figure 3). The lateral walls 40 and 42 may be cored away intermediate the column guide lugs to form shallow pockets in the sides of the bolster, said pockets being defined by the short inboard and outboard transverse walls 43 and 50, said pockets being in alignment with the adjacent guide portions of the side frame columns 6, 6, as well illustrated in Figure 3.

On each side frame guide column may be secured in any convenient manner, as by welding, a wear plate 52 which may have flat face engagement as at 54 with the adjacent friction shoe 56 on the opposite face of which may be formed a central socket 58 within which may seat as at 60 the rounded end of the arcuate pressure plunger member 62. The central portion of the member E52 may have slidable engagement as at 64 along the horizontal arcuate channel 66 (Figure the opposite end of the shoe-actuating member 62 having abutment as at 68 against the vertical shoulder '50 of the spring tension rod, generally designated F2. The central portion of the tension rod 12 may extend through the opening 14 (Figure 4) centrally formed in the abutment '16, said abutment being the studlike member integrally formed with the topand bottom walls of the bolster merging with the extremities of the intermediate bolster walls 44 and 46. Said abutment 16 may afford a seat as at 18 for the compression spring 80, the opposite end of which may seat as at 82 against the spring seat 84 formed on the opposite end of the tension rod 12, said spring 8!] being positioned with respect to the spring seat 84 by the shoulders 86, 86 (Figure 8).

The tension rod 12 is shown in detail in Figures 7, 8, and 8A, said rod having a main body portion 88 in the form of a flat bar at one end of which may be the before-mentioned spring seat 8d and at the opposite end thereof the head portion 90 on which may be formed the beforem'entioned shoulders 10, 19 for abutment of the adjacent ends of the shoe-actuating members 62, 62, as already described. On the extremity of the head 9!! may be formed the eye 92 for convenient reception of a pinch bar or other means (not shown) which may be fulcrumed against the extremity of the bolster as at 94, as well seen in Figure 2, in order to apply tension on the rod 12 to compress the spring 80 and as may be desirable in assembling or dismantling the device. When the spring 89 is under such compression as that just mentioned, a pin may be entered in the central opening 96 in each plunger 62 and afforded abutment as at 98 (Figure 3) against the bolster stud 6 at the edge of the central opening 14 therein, thus maintaining said plungers E52, 62 in their withdrawn position and the spring 80 under compression as may be desirable when the truck is being assembled or dismantled.

It may be noted that upon compression of the spring 89 by a pinch bar (not shown) as above described, the shoe actuating members 62, 62 may be removed from the outboard end of the bolster and thereafter and upon removal of said pinch bar, the rod 12 and spring Bil may be removed as a unit through an opening 99 in the bottom wall 38 of the bolster. This opening is fragmentarily illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 wherein approximately one-third of the bolster is shown, as will be understood by those skilled in the art; and it will be understood that the opening 99 extends longitudinally of the bolster for a sufficient distance to accommodate assembly and disassembly of the rod l2 and spring 89. In assembling the device, the spring and rod '72 are inserted through the opening 99 and the spring 80 is compressed as above described by a pinch bar (not shown) extending through the eye 92 and fulcrumed against the end of the bolster to accommodate insertion of the shoe actuating members 62 into the related sockets 58 and abutment of the shoe actuating members against the shoulders it of the tension rod 12 whereupon the rod 12 is released and the spring 89 is operable to wedge the members 62 tightly against the abutment l5 and the shoes 56.

My novel form of friction shoe is shown in detail in Figures 9, 10 and 11 wherein it will be seen to be a simple rectangular block with the beforementioned central opening 58 forming a socket for the actuating plunger 62, top and bottom flanges Hi9, and a fiat rectangular friction face H92 over the entire area at one side of the shoe.

The detail of the plunger or shoe-actuating member, generally designated 62, is shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14. The top plan view of Figure 12 shows this member to be in general form of an arcuate bar having a rounded edge 104 at one side alon the midportion thereof for guidable engagementwith the channel 66 in the abutment member 76, as shown in Figure 5, said plunger having a V-shaped head portion I96 for complementary engagement with the recess 58 in the associated friction shoe (Figure 11) and a tail portion I88 flattened at one side as at III] for convenient seating as at I 12 (Figure 3) against the side of the spring bar 12 adjacent the shoulder Hi thereof.

Figure 6 is a view comparable to Figure 5 and shows an alternate arrangement for seating the plunger member against the bolster abutment 16, said alternate form comprising a V-shaped slot in the abutment l6 and a complementary portion on the plunger H4 seated in said V-shaped slot as at H6.

The method of operation of my novel device will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. It will also be understood that the parts of the friction device will be assembled in the bolster prior to its association with the side frame. In such assembly the spring 80 will be placed under compression as before described by application of power means to the eye end of the tension rod 72, the parts being maintained in said withdrawn position sufficiently to permit the application of the bolster in the side frame openmg.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that when my novel arrangement is in operative position, the compression spring 80 will be operative to place tension on the rod '12, thus urging the plungers 62, 62 into engagement with respective friction shoes and urging said shoes against the wear plates on the adjacent side wall columns. This arrangement constitutes a toggle mechanism for actuation of the shoes 56, with the plunger 62 functioning as toggle links and the rod 12 functioning as a toggle actuator operated by the spring 80. Any movement of the bolster end longitudinally of the side frame will be opposed by full compression of the spring 80 and the squaring, effect on the truck will be improved thereby.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to'those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway car truck, an assembly comprising a box-section bolster with column guides at opposite sides thereof, friction shoes pocketed intermediate said guides, and means housed in said bolster for actuating said shoes, said means comprising a spring abutting a wall of said bolster, a tension rod seated against the opposite end of said spring and extending therethrough, shoe abutting actuators operatively connected to the opposite end of said rod, and means for locking said actuators in position against said wall for maintaining said spring, said rod, and said actuators in assembled relationship within said bolster, said rod having connecting means adapted for connection to associated actuating means for releasing pressure of said spring against said actuators to facilitate locking of the latter against said wall.

2. In a railway car truck, a supporting member having spaced columns, a member springsupported therefrom with guide means engaging said columns, friction shoes mounted in said supported member for slidable engagement with said columns, and actuating means for said shoes mounted in said supported member comprising a coil spring longitudinally thereof, a tension bar associated with said spring for actuation thereby, and thrust members connected between said tension bar and said shoes, said thrust members having arcuate engagement with a Wall of said supported member, each of said thrust members having an opening therethrough for accommodation of stop means adapted to retain said thrust means in a position out of engagement with the associated shoe.

. 3. In a railway car truck, a supporting member having spaced columns, a member springsupported therefrom with guide means engaging said columns, friction shoes mounted in said supported member for slidable engagement with said columns, and actuating means for said shoes mounted in said supported member comprising a coil spring longitudinally thereof, a tension bar associated with said spring for actuation thereby, and thrust members connected between said tension bar and said shoes, said thrust members having openings for stop means for engagement with a wall of said supported member for maintaining said spring under compression through engagement with said bar.

4. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns, a bolster spring-supported therefrom in guidable engagement with said columns, friction shoes pocketed in said bolster and engaging respective columns, and means housed in said bolster for actuation of said shoes, said means comprising a compression spring mounted in said bolster longitudinally thereof and operatively connected to respective shoes, said operative connection comprising a tension rod having an end abutting said spring and shoe thrusting actuators operatively connected to the other end of said rod, each of said actuators having an arcuate face in complementary engagement with an arouate slot in a wall of said bolster.

5. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns, a bolster spring-supported therefrom in guidable engagement with said columns, said bolster having top and. bottom walls and an intermediate wall, friction shoes pocketed in said bolster and engaging respective columns, and means housed in said bolster for actuation of said shoes, said means comprising a compression spring mounted in said bolster longitudinally thereof and operatively connected .to respective shoes, said operative connection comprising a tension rod having an end abutting said spring and shoe thrusting actuators operatively connected to the other end of said rod, said actuators having arcuate guided engagement with respective slots in said intermediate wall of said bolster.

'6. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns, a bolster spring-supported therefrom in guidable engagement with said columns, said bolster having top and bottom walls and an intermediate wall extending therebetween, friction shoes pocketed in said bolster and engaging respective columns, and means housed in said bolster for actuation of said shoes, said means comprising a compression spring mounted in said bolster longitudinally thereof and having an operative connection to respective shoes, said connection comprising a bar engaged with said spring and extending longitudinally of said bolster, shoe thrust members operatively connected between said bar and respective shoes, and armate guides in said intermediate wall of said bolster for said thrust members.

'7. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns, a bolster spring-supported therefrom in guidable engagement with said columns, friction shoes pocketed in the sides of said bolster in engagement with the adjacent columns, each of said friction shoes having a central socket, and means for actuating said friction shoes comprising a compression spring housed in said bolster in abutment with spring seat means thereon, a, tension rod abutting one end of said spring, and thrust members operatively connected to the other end of said rod, in slidable engagement with the bolster, and received in said sockets for actuation of respective shoes.

8. In a railway car truck, an assembly comprising a box-section bolster with column guides at opposite sides thereof, friction shoes pocketed inter- 4 mediate said guides, and means housed in said bolster for actuating the associated friction shoes, said means comprising a coil spring abutting a wall of said bolster, a tension rod seated against the opposite end of said sprin and extending therethrough, sh'oe thrusting actuators operatively connected to the oppositeend of said rod, and means for locking said actuators in position against said wall for maintaining said spring, said rod, and said actuators ln assembled relationship within said bolster.

9. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns, a bolster spring-supported therefrom in guidable engagement with said columns, said bolster having top and bottom walls, friction shoes pocketed in said bolster and engaging respective columns, and means housed in said bolster for actuation of said shoes, said means memos omprisin a c mpr ssi n sp in m un ed in id bo s er l n itud na ly t ereo and pe v ly connected to respective shoes, said operative connection comprising a tension rod having an end abutting said spring and arcuate shoe engaging actuators operatively connected to the other end of said rod, each of said actuators having slidable engagement with a bolster wall intermediate said top and bottom walls.

10. In a railway car truck, a supporting memher having spaced columns, a member springsupported therefrom with guide means engaging said columns, friction shoes mounted in said supported member for slidable engagement with said columns, and actuating means for said shoes mounted in said supported member comprising a coil spring longitudinally thereof, a tension bar associated with said spring for actuation thereby, and thrust members connected between said tension bar and said shoes, said thrust members having slidable arcuate engagement with a Wall of said supported member and engaging said friction shoes respectively centrally thereof.

11. In a railway car truck, a supporting memher having spaced columns, a member springsupported therefrom with guide means engaging said columns, friction shoes mounted in said supported member for slidable engagement with said columns, and actuating means for said shoes mounted in said supported member comprising a coil spring longitudinally thereof, a tension bar associated with said spring for actuation thereby, and thrust members connected between said tension bar and said shoes, said thrust members having arcuate engagement with a wall of said supported member,

12. In a railway car truck, a supporting member having spaced columns, a member spring supported therefrom with guide means engaging said columns, friction shoes mounted in said supported member for slidable engagement with said columns, and actuating means for said shoes mounted in said supported member comprising a coil spring longitudinally thereof, a tension bar. associated with said spring for actuation thereby, and thrust members connected between said tension bar and said shoes, said thrust members having arcuate slidable engagement with a wall of said supported member, each of said thrust members having an end operatively connected to the associated shoe.

13. A bolster assembly comprising a box-section member with spaced column guide lugs at either side thereof, friction shoes pocketed intermediate said lugs, and actuating means for the associated friction shoes housed in said member and comprising a coil spring longitudinally arranged therein and reacting at one end against said member, a tension rod having an end abutting the opposite end of said spring, shoe thrusting actuators operatively connected to the opposite end of said rod and having slidable bearing against a wall of said member, and means for locking said actuators in a position to maintain.

said spring under compression, each of said actuators having an end recessed in the associated shoe.

14. A bolster assembly comprising a box-section member with spaced column guide lugs at either side thereof, friction shoes pocketed intermediate said lugs, and actuating means for the associated friction shoes housed in said member and comprising a coil spring longitudinally arranged therein and abutting a spring seat carried thereby, a tension rod having an end abutting a d sprin s oe thrusti g a tuators o e a ive y connected to the opposite end of said rod and having slidable arcuate bearing against a wall of said member, and means for locking said spring, said rod and said acuators within said member.

15. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns, a bol ter springesupported therefrom in guidable engagement with said columns, friction shoes pocketed in said bolster and engaging respective columns, and means housed in said bolster for actuation of said shoes, said means o pr sin a c mpres i n p n mounted in said bolster longitudinally thereof and operatively connected to respective shoes, said opera.- tive nnect on mpris a tensi n r d havi g an end abutting said spring and shoe thrusting actuators operatively connected to the other end of said r ea h o ai actua r a i an nd. recessed n the asso iated sho an an openi therethrough for locking means.

1. I a railway ar ruck a s e am ha pac d olumns a bo ster pr n up r ed t e m i su dabl en agem nt wi h' a d c umn friction ho pock ed sai bol e an ena in resp c ve columns. and m ans o s d in said bo ste for ac ua on o said h es sai ns mpr ing a c mpression S rin mou ed n said bolste o itud nally t ereo nd op tively connected to respective Shoe said means comprising a spring-actuated bar positioned longitudinally of said bolster and shoe engaging actuators operatively connected between said bar and respective shoes, each of said actuators having an arcuate bearing against an associated guiding bolster wall and having an end recessed in the associated shoe.

17. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns, a bolster spring-supported therefrom in guidable engagement with said columns, friction shoes pocketed in said bolster and engaging respective columns, and means housed in said bolster for actuation of said shoes, said means comprising a compression spring mounted in said bolster longitudinally thereof and having an operative connection to respective shoes, said connection comprising an arcuate member having thrust engagement with each shoe at a single area centrally thereof, each of said members having arcuate guiding engagement with an associated bolster wall.

18. A railway car truck comprising a side frame with spaced columns, a bolster spring-supported therebetween, friction shoes carried by the bolster adjacent respective columns and a toggle mechanism carried by the bolster for urging said shoes against said columns, said mechanism comprising a pair of toggle plungers engaging respective shoes and extending therefrom toward the longitudinal center line of the bolster, and spring means operatively connected to the bolster and to the ends of said plungers remote from said shoes for urging said plungers thereagainst.

19. A railway car truck comprising a side frame with spaced columns, a bolster spring-supported therebetween and comprising top and bottom walls, friction shoes carried by said bolster for frictional engagement with respective columns, shoe actuating plungers having their remote ends operatively connected to respective shoes, and spring means operatively .connected to the bolster and to the adjacent ends of respective plungers for urging the latter against said shoes thereby urging the shoes against respective columns, each of said plungers having slidable engagement in termediate its ends with an associated bolster wall at a point intermediate said top and bottom walls.

20. In a railway car truck, an assembly comprising a box-section bolster with column guides at opposite sides thereof, friction shoes pocketed intermediate said guides, and means housed in said bolster for actuating the associated friction shoes, said means comprising a coil spring abutting a wall of said bolster, a tension rod seated against the opposite end of said spring and extending therethrough, and shoe thrust members operatively connected to the opposite end of said rod, each of said members having an end recessed in the associated shoe and an intermediate arcuate portion in guiding engagement with a complementary wall of said bolster.

21. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns, a bolster spring-supported therefrom in guidable engagement with said columns, friction shoes pocketed in said bolster and engaging respective columns, and means housed in said bolster for actuation of said shoes, said means comprising a compression spring mounted insaid bolster longitudinally thereof and operatively connected to respective shoes, each of said operative connections comprising an arcuate thrust member having an end recessed in the associated shoe and an intermediate arcuate portion in guiding engagement with a complementary wall of said bolster.

22. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns, a bolster spring-supported therefrom in guidable engagement with said columns, rectangular openings in the side walls of said bolster defining friction shoe pockets, rectangular friction shoes in said pockets, each of said shoes having a central recess on its inner face, thrust members in arcuate guiding engagement with complementary walls of said bolster and having corresponding ends seated respectively in said recesses, and a spring-actuated tension rod operatively connected to the opposite ends of said thrust members.

23. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns, a bolster spring-supported therefrom in guidable engagement with said columns, rectangular openings in the side walls of said bolster defining friction shoe pockets, rectangular friction shoes in said pockets, each of said shoes having a central recess on its inner face,

thrust members in arcuate guiding engagement with complementary walls of said bolster and hav- 10 ing corresponding ends seated respectively in said recesses, and a spring-actuated tension rod operatively connected to the opposite ends of said thrust members, said rod having an eye end for connection to an associated tool.

24. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns, a bolster interposed between said columns and housing friction shoes in engagement therewith, a coil spring longitudinally housed in said bolster intermediate said shoes, a tension rod abutting the free end of said spring and extending outwardly of said bolster end, and an arcuate thrust member guidably engaging a bolster wall and interposed between respective shoes and adjacent shoulders on said rod.

25. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns, a bolster interposed between said columns and housing friction shoes in engagement therewith, a coil spring longitudinally housed in said bolster intermediate said shoes, a

tension rod abutting the free end of said spring and extending outwardly of said bolster end, and an arcuate thrust member guidably engaging a bolster wall and interposed between respective shoes and adjacent shoulders on said rod, each of said thrust members having an opening intermediate its ends for an associated locking means.

26. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns, a bolster interposed between said columns and housing friction shoes in engagement therewith, a coil spring longitudinally housed in said bolster intermediate said shoes, a tension rod abutting the free end of said spring and extending outwardly of said bolster end, and an arcuate thrust member guidably engaging a bolster wall and interposed between respective shoes and adjacent shoulders on said rod, said rod having an eye end externally of said bolster for connection to an associated tool.

RAYMOND C. PIERCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 810,282 House Jan. 16, 1906 2,255,960 Barrows Sept. 16, 1941 2,365,198 Lehrman Dec. 19, 1944 

